Method and device for slaughtering fish in particular white fish

Abstract

A device and method for slaughtering fish, in particular white fish, has at least one fish receptacle for positioning and receiving the fish, a throat cutting apparatus for cutting through the throat in preparation for the pharynx cut, a pharynx cutting apparatus for completely cutting through the pharynx, a slaughtering apparatus for opening the abdominal cavity, a gut severing apparatus for releasing the entrails from the abdominal cavity and a peripheral fish receiving drum with which the fish can be moved to the individual processing stations. The fish receiving drum is driven intermittently in rotation about a horizontal shaft. The fish are movable transversely to their longitudinal axis on an essentially vertical circular path. The fish receptacle includes pectoral fin receptacles and a torso clamp for fixing the fish torsos. Also, a head support with a head clamp is provided.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001](1) Field of the Invention[0002]The invention concerns a device and method for slaughtering fish, in particular white fish.[0003](2) Description of Related Art[0004]In devices and methods of the known kind, after a manual throat cut the fish are laid in fish receptacles of the fish receiving drum and moved continuously past the individual work stations which are located in the region of the circular path of the drum. It also happens that the fish are laid without their throats cut in the known devices. The fish receiving drum is rotatable about a vertical shaft, so that the fish are laid in the fish receptacles with the head pointing upwards (that is, in a vertical position) and with the tail at the bottom, and moved on an essentially horizontal circular path.[0005]In devices of the above-mentioned kind, it is of particular importance that on the one hand the ergonomic conditions for the operator meet the requirements and on the other hand the unhead...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]In a preferred development of the invention, the head support is of movable construction. This allows the processing of fish within an increased length range, preferably within a range from 35 to 90 cm, as the head support can yield, depending on the fish size.

[0013]A further advantageous embodiment comprises, in addition to the head support, a head clamp too. This clamp allows the head to have a precise position and be fixed at each processing position, leading to improved cutting quality. Further, due to separate clamping of the torso on the one hand and the head on the other hand, discharge of the respectively fixed part in different positions can be effected.

[0014]Particularly advantageous is the embodiment in which the slaughtering apparatus in addition to the curved slaughter knife includes a circular blade. This ensures that the abdominal cover is completely cut during the slaughter cut, independently of the fish size, so as to produce a central, straight cut which is required for example for the production of saltfish.

[0015]It is particularly advantageous that the curved slaughter knife is constructed in two portions and consists of a main portion and a tip portion. This guarantees in a particularly effective manner that external influences acting on the curved slaughter knife, e.g. acceleration due to wave motion on a ship, have no effect on the manner of operation or the result of operation, because guiding of the curved slaughter knife is effected by means of the main portion, while deflecti...

Problems solved by technology

All the above devices and methods, however, have the disadvantage that they display unfavourable ergonomics for the operator, particularly against the background that the devices are used mainly on board fishing boats/trawlers which sometimes have a deck height of not more than 2 m. In the known devices, the operator must bend over the device on account of the arrangement of the fish receiving drum, which is possible only with great difficulty in the cramped conditions.

Further, the operator must perform lifting work due to the position of the fish in the fish receptacle, which, considered over the day/shift, on account of the heavy weight is an enormous physical burden.

Furthermore, the cutting results with the known devices and methods are not satisfactory, particularly as far as preparation of the fish for further processing as saltfish is concerned.

A further disadvantage lies in that the entrails are destroy...

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